New Call for Choice Neighborhood 'Planning and Action' Grants

Marielle Mondon reports on this week's big announcement from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) about the latest round of funding in the Choice Neighborhoods initiative.

To explain the initiative, Mondon writes: "As part of HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods initiative, grants of up to $2 million will be given for projects like reclaiming vacant properties, attracting new business and engaging communities in transformation plans." As documented by a recent report authored by the Urban Institute, the Choice Neighborhoods program endeavors to broaden the scope of investment funded by federal grants for neighborhood revitalization. "The agency cites everything from improving Internet access to beautifying storefronts on its list for what the funding can help achieve," explains Mondon.

As noted by the HUD press release announcing the new round of funding, 63 grants have been awarded to previous projects that created "neighborhood Transformation Plans." Under the new "Planning and Action Grants," however, "communities with severely distressed public or HUD-assisted housing will continue to develop a successful neighborhood transformation plan and build the support necessary for that plan to be successfully implemented."